Harburnhead Windfarm Inauguration Event

The inauguration event for Harburnhead Windfarm was held at the site in West Lothian, Scotland, on 5th April 2017. Arcus was delighted to support our client, LDV Harburnhead Ltd, both on the day and throughout the project to date. It was highly satisfying to see all 22 Enercon E82 turbines spinning, while the plaque on the control building was unveiled.

The 51.7 MegaWatt (MW) windfarm completed construction last autumn, and the operational phase officially started in December 2016. This followed an intense period of construction activity, which saw all the civils and turbine works carried out during 2016, in time for the development to qualify as one of the last projects under the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme.

Harburnhead Windfarm will provide substantial benefits to the local community and the environment. Community benefit arrangements are in place to provide £3m to local community development trusts over the 25 year operational phase. According to the Environmental Statement, the project will displace emissions of around 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year of operation, as well as substantial quantities of other air pollutants. As part of the windfarm proposals, around 150 ha of conifer forest will be restored to lowland raised bog habitat, and a further 150 ha will be replanted with mixed native broadleaf trees forming a wet woodland habitat.

Arcus managed the complete development process in support of our client, from feasibility (starting late 2008) through to the present operational phase (2017).

We have supported the client, Enel Viento, in all aspects of the development, including:

Co-ordinating and providing expert witnesses at the public local inquiry;

Negotiating a grid connection offer and overseeing its delivery;

Assisting in investment and bank finance;

Overseeing the construction phase and providing Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), water quality monitoring and Archaeological Clerk of Works (ACoW);

Discharging planning conditions; and

Operational phase hydrological and ecological monitoring.

This has required the management of a variety of complex issues in order to find solutions for the client and deliver a high quality project. The site had extensive peat coverage and plantation forestry, adding a layer of complexity to the design process. The understanding and experience of these issues in Arcus has allowed us to provide the developer with the highest quality of advice during the design stage.